Paper-handling machine



Sept. 14 1926.

Fi led Sept. 15

1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 14 1926. 1,600,029

A. D. ADAMOPOULOS PAPER HANDLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1925 5 Sheats-Sheet 2 Sept. 14 1926.

' A. D. ADAMOPOULOS PAPER HANDLING MACHINE 5 Sheds-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 16 1925 Sept; 14, 1926.

1,600,029 A., D. ADAMOPOULOS PAPER HANDLING MACHINE s Sheets-Sheet i Filed Sept. 16 1925 Sept. 14 ,1'926.

A. D. AD-AMOPOULOS PAPER HANDLING MACHINE Filed ep 16, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet' 5 Patented Sept. 14, 1926.

airs!) s'rArss ARISTOMENES D. ADAMOPOULGS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PAPER-HANDLING MACHINE.

Application filed September 16, 1925. Serial No. 56,573.

This invention relates to a machine which operates upon paper so as to adapt it for napkin,-towel, or other uses. It severs from a roll desired lengths of paper, it then folds each paper length so severed, it stacks the folded papers in a form convenient for handling, and produces periodically a special fold so as to indicate the accumulation in the stack of a definite quantity of the papers. As my invention is especially suitable in preparing such paper lengths for napkin use, the description to follow will designate the work accordingly.

The mechanism which performs these Various operations includes a number of parts which are arranged and timed to operate in accordance with the requirements of the completed product. It includes also oertain special features such as a novel cutter for severing the paper into napkin lengths; means for normally centering each napkin just prior to the last folding operation; a pusher device by which each napkin is moved to a new position after the last fold has been made; and means by which a predetermined quantity of napkins are compressed and then bound within an enclosing wrapper. My invention is concerned with these as well as various other objects all of which will hereinafter more fully appear from the specification and claims, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show a preferred embodiment of my invention in the manner following:

Figure l is a front elevation of the machine in its entirety;

Fig. 2 is a view inelevation of one end thereof;

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the opposite end thereof;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken about centrally through the machine;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the napkins as finally folded;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a quantity of the napkins stacked and bound within a wrapper p 7 is a vertical section through the machine taken about on line 7-7 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail of the napkin retaining and stacking mechanism which Fig. 9 is a similar view with the parts moved to another position.

I have illustrated a machine which is rested upon a table or bench A. The frameof the machine'may consist of a pair of spaced members B and C between which travels the work which is to be operated upon. It will conduce to an easier understanding of this invention to present first a description of the movements of the paper, together with the operations performed thereupon, and, second, a detailed explanation of the several connections which furnish the drive therefor. Lastly I will describe the mechanisms which operate upon the finished product.

The machine frame members are I each provided with an L-head 10 from which are rearwardly extended a pair of arms 11 which support between them a paper roll B. As appears in Fig. 4, paper P which unwinds from this roll is passed beneath an idler guide roller 12, thence over and around a feed roller 13, thence between this roller and a feed roller 14 around which the paper travels before entering between upper and lower companion rollers 15 and 16 respectively. Upon emerging from these rollers the paper slides across a shelf 17 with which co-operates a spiral blade 18 7 associated with a roller 19, also a shearing blade 20 which 1S earned between a pair of plvoted arms 21 having spring means 22 connected therewith. The spiral blade peri odically rotates past the shelf edge to sever the paper into uniform lengths suitable for napkin use.

From this point each napkin is conveyed upon endless belts, arranged side by side, preferably four in number, the motion of certain of these belts being halted from time to time while an operation of folding is be ing performed upon the napkin. These conveyor belts, together with the associated rollers, constitute, in effect, two separate.

units, which are substantiallyalike. This part of my invention will now be explained.

Proceeding from the shelf 17, the severed napkin N passes between the roller 19 and a companion feeding roller 23 on to conveyor belts 2 1 which travel over rollers 25 and 26. Associated with these rollers and constituting a unit therewith are other belts 27 which travel over rollers 28 and 29. The rollers over which these several conveyor belts are carried, as well as the rollers to be described in connection with the remaining belt conveyors, may desirably be grooved in the path of each belt so that none of these belts projects above the pe riphery of the associated rollers. Between the two sets of belts 2 1- and 27 is a space through which a folder blade 3 may advance. Adjacent the inner rollers 25 and 29 are guide rollers 31 and 32, and also other feeding rollers and Zi l between which the napkin is passed after receiving an initial fold from the blade 30. At this point the singlefolded napkin engages with a roller 35 over which conveyor belts 36 pass to travel around an inner roller Associated with the belts 36 are other belts 38 passing around rollers 39 and 40, the latter near the roller 37 but spaced slightly therefrom. The belts 36 and 38, together with associated rollers, constitute the second unit in my conveyor system. The napkin which is laid upon these: belts is then stopped in its travel by a bar lO, following which a second folder blade 41 is advanced to fold once more the two napkin thicknesses in a direction parallel to the first fold. This makes a total of four folds up to this point.

Guide rollers 42 and are located adjacent the two inner rollers 37 and 10, and cooperating therewith are companion feed rollers 414i and 4 5 which advance the napkin with four parallel folds to a position upon an inclined plate 16. Here a stop 47 is provided, also a slotted opening L8 through the plate. Vi hile rested upon the plate stop, the napkin receives a further fold from a blade d9 which pushes the napkin through the plate opening between pair of rollers 50 and 51'. .The napkin which now has eight parallel folds is advanced between conveyor belts 52 and which travel over the rollers 50 and 51, respectively, and other rollers and associated therewith. These belts deposit the napkin upon a pair of horizontal belts 55 (see l which deriv notion from the roller 5. so as to conic .e napkin to a slotted shelf 56 with which is associated means by which the nap kin is accurately centered before receiv ng the last fold from a vertically slidable blade 5'7. This folder blade, it should be noted, is K l UjPOSQCl. in a plane which is perpendicular to the other three folder blades which previously have operated upon the napkin. Because of this, and the further fact that the napkin has not turned around during its travel through the machine, the

final fold from the blade 57 is transverse to the other folds, whereby the completed product appears as in Fig. 5.

Such, in brief, is the course of travel of the paper and severed napkins through the machine of this invention. lllany of the rollers ust described are mounted upon shafts which also carry gears or pinions forming part of the driving train. It will be convenient to refer to these several shafts and gears by numerals which bear some correspondence to those designating the associated rollers. Accordingly in the description to follow, such associated shafts and gears are denoted by numerals having a dcnomination higher by one hundred and two hundred. respectively.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and a in particular, I have provided a main shaft 60 whereon may be mounted a pulley 61 to which power is applied from a suitable source. A sprocket wheel. 62 which is also secured to this shaft transmits motion as by a chain 63 to a second wheel 6% which is mounted on. shaft 114. On this same shaft is a gear 21-41- in mesh with other smaller gears 213 and 216, the latter having a driving connection with the gear 215 and also with a jack gear which meshes with the gear wherewith a gear 219 on shaft 119 is in driving relation. Over a sprocket wheel 66 on shaft 119 a chain (37 transmits power to a wheel 68 which is carried fast on a shaft 69 whereon is also mounted a mutilated ratchet wheelTO having no teeth upon a considerable portion of its periphery. Driven intermittently by the ratchet wheel is a second toothed wheel 71 on a shaft 7 2 which also carries a gear wheel 73 in driving relation to a gear A second sprocket wheel 75 on the main shaft 60 transmits power through a chain 76 to two wheels 77 and 78, the former being carried on a shaft 79 whereon is also mounted, a ratchet wheel 80 having interrupted teeth for imparting an intermittent rotation to a meshing wheel 81. From the sprocket wheel 78 which is carried on shaft 154 a chain drive extends to a wheel 83 on shaft lid. The wheel 81 is secured to a shaft whoreon is also a sprocket wheel 85 (see Fig. 7) which drives a chain 86 run ning over a wheel 87 on shaft 126.

Extending laterally from the wheel 81 is a pin 81 adapted to be advanced against an arc plate 80 which is carried on the ratchet wheel. 80. )uring rotation of the latter this plate will. be moved adjacent the pin 81 for a desired period of dwell so as to hold the shaft 8% completely stationary. A similar means is associated with the two wheels 71 and 70, the former being pro vided with a pin 71 and the latter with an arc periphery 70, so as to produce precisely the same results. Theeffect of this is to halt periodically the travel of the belts in the first two units of the conveyor system, thereby permitting the folder blades to operate upon the work while it is stationary.

On the shaft I have mounted a second gear 283 which meshes with gears 88 and 23 1, the former being in driving relation to a train of two gears and 231. Also driven by gear is a third gear 235 with which is associated a sprocket having a chain connection 89 with a wheel 90 on shaft 139. l have also provided two meshing gears 24 1 and 21-5, the former being arranged to drive a gear 91 which in turn drives a train of two gears 2412 and 243.

F or operating the several folder blades means as follows may be employed: A pair of cranks 92 on shaft 119 are connected to link bars 93 each pivoted to an arm 91 which is mounted fast on a rock shaft Extending forwardly from this shaft are other arms 96 between which is carried the folder blade 30. l v ith rotation of the shaft 119 the blade is caused to swing down between the conveyor belts 24 and 27 so as to produce in the napkin its first fold. The second folder blade 11 is likewise mounted between two arms 97 having a pivotal mounting 98. These two arms which are caused to swing periodically by means of link connections 99 extending to cranks 100 on the shaft 79, advance the folder blade between the belts 30 and 38 to perform the second folding operation upon the napkin. From a crank 101 on the shaft 114; a link connection 102 extends to a rocking arm 103 associated with another arm 104. which carries the third folder blade 49, the arrangement being such that this blade is thereby operated to fold the napkin further as it is advanced through the slotted opening 48.

At this point it is of importance to note that certain of the parts are continuously operated, whereas others derive only an intermittent movement. The feed of the paper from the roll is without interruption, also the crank drive for each of the three folder blades proceeds from shafts which are in continuous motion. Also the companion feed rollers which engage the nap- ;in after the first two folding operations are continuously operated as are also the conveyor belts 52 and iut the other conveyor belts 24-. and 27 and 36 and 3S halt periodically, being timed to arrest travel of the napkin when a folding operation is to be performed. In this manner the work is handled automatically and without interruption, several napkins being operat l upon simultaneously to produce the final package which is shown in Fig. 6.

Referring now to the first, fourth, and seventh figures of the drawing, the means for severing the paper into napkin lengths will now be described. This includes the spiral blade 18 which is carried between a pair of arms 105 mounted on the shaft 119, the outer blade edge being adjusted to just clear the edgeof the shelf 17; also the shearing blade 20 which normally stands adjacent the shelf edge, appears in Figs. 4 and 7, due to pulling action of the springs 22. This position of rest is variable due to the provision of a pair of adjusting screws l06which engage with the blade or :rying arms 105. With rotation of the shaft- 119 the spiral blade wipes across the shearing blade, the cutting action starting first at one end of the two blades and then proceeding lengthwise thereof until a complete severance of the paper has been effected. The furtl'ier rotation of shaft 119 moves the spiral blade into a spiral recess 18' formed for its accommodation in the roller 23, thereby permitting the blade to rotate through 360. This action takes place without any interruption in the movement of the paper, is repeated with each rotation of the shaft 119, and effects with each operation a clean severance of th paper into a square or rectangle of such size as to be suitable for napkin use. It is of interest to note that the pitch and movement speed of the spiral blade are so corelated to the travel of the paper as to obviate any relative movement between the blade and the paper during the severing operation, thereby conducing to a straight cut transversely of its length.

A large ratchet wheel 107 is also mounted adjacent one side of the machine. Its rotation is caused'by a spring actuated pawl 108 which is carried on a pin 109 forming a pivotal connection between two linked bars 110 and 111, the former of which is also pivoted to one of the frame members. The other bar is connected with a crank 112 which is mounted on the shaft 114 so'as to periodically advance the pawl a distance of one ratchet tooth, thereby producing a corresponding movement of the wheel. The teeth in the wheel 10? correspond in number to the quantity of napkins which are to be bound into each package; for example, if 125 napkins is the number desired for packaging, then the ratchet wheel may have a like number of teeth to assist in making this same count. The means by which this is accomplished include a dog 301 mounted on a shaft 302 and adapted to be kicked out each time the wheel is advanced the distance of one tooth. Extending laterally from the shaft 302 is a finger 303 which engages with one arm of a bellcrank 30 1 with which is associated a spring actuated pivoted centering plate 305. This plate is movable counter to its spring tension and independently of the bell crank toward one end of the shelf 56 whereon the napkin is rested preliminary to receiving its final fold. A second centering plate 300 which is pi-votally mounted adjacentthe opposite shelf end, is connected by a rod 307 with the first in such manner as to move simultaneously toward and from the same. It follows, therefore, that each advance of the ratchet wheel 107 results in movement of the dog 301 with a consequent actuation of the bell crank and two centering plates. The effect of this is to accurately position the napkin centrally of the shelf just prior to the last folding operation.

One of the ratchet teeth 308 is mutilated to the extent that it may still cooperate with the pawl 108 while failing to coact with the dog 301. This is accomplished (see Fig. 1) by removing the outer half of the tooth 308, and so locating the pawl and dog that they may track only upon the inner and outer portions, respectively, of the toothed periphery of the wheel. A second bell crank 309 presents one arm adjacent a lug 310 extending inwardly from the ratchet wheel and so spaced from the split tooth 808 as to trip the bell crank 309 at the moment the bell crank 301 would have been rocked had the dog 301 been engaged by the mutilated tooth 308. From the bell crank 309 a connection 811 leads directly to the proximate centering plate 305 so as to actuate the same, independently of the complementary plate 300 whose position remains unchanged. The result of this action is to shift the napkin lengthwise of the shelf 56 to an ofl'center position so that the final fold leaves one napkin end standing higher than all the others. Since this ofi'center fold can take place only once during each revolution of the ratchet wheel 109, it follows that in the final stack of napkins, I have provided by the means described an accurate count or indication of the number of napkins which have received treatment from the machine.

Associated with the shelf 56 are stops 312 against which the napkin is rested after being conveyed by the belts 55 Opposite a central slot in the shelf (not shown), I have arran d a vertical guide rod 313 on which the folder blade 57 is slidably mounted. Its movements may be effected with the aid of a bar having a sliding connection 815 with the blade and a pivotal connection 316 with a tired part of the machine, in combination with a second bar 317 pivotally joined to the iii and connected to a third bar 318 which is fulcrun'ied as at 319, and connected with a link 320 which is pivoted to a crank 321 on the shaft 60. Proximate to the slot in the shelf 56 are a pair of guide rollers 322 on the under side thereof. lVith each downward stroke of the folder blade a napkin is drawn through the plate slot to thereby receive its final fold. By this movement the napkin is deposited adjacent the table A on which is a receiving trough 323 wherein the several napkins are arranged in stacked relation.

Means are also provided for assuring a shift in the position of the napkin so that it will not interfere with deposit of the next succeeding napkin at the hands of the same folder blade. This part of my invention is disclosed most fully in Fi s. 8 and 9. It comprises a pin 32 1 upstanding from the table A adjacent one edge of the deposited napkin and upon that side thereof which is remote from the trough 323, the pin having a laterally bent portion 32 1 at its top which engages the corresponding portion of the napkin; a pusher block 825 which is movable past the pin and into the trough so as to carry with it the napkin last folded and press the same against the stack of napkins therewithin; and operating means for the pusher block which may include a plunger bar 326 slidable within a guide bearing 32? and connected by a link with a crank 329 which rotates with a shaft 380 having a driven connection as at 331 with a shaft 332 which carries a gear wheel 333 in mesh with the gear 75. By providing some such mechanism as this, the pusher block is advanced after each operation of the blade 57 to move the folded napkin into the trough where it held by means now to be described.

ltfounted on the shaft 380 is a cam finger engageable with a pivoted bar 335 to lift the same once during each rotation of the shaft. It link 2336 pivoted to this bar is joined also to a rocking bar 33? which is fulcrumed as at 33 This rocking bar which is mounted adjacent one edge of the napkin is provided with an elf-set head 33?) which depends in part within a slot 3 10 in the table A. When r cked to the position of Fig. 8, the head is lowered wholly into the slot so that the napkin may pass freely thereover in response to movement of the pusher block. Thereafter, upon retreat of the pusher block, the rocker head is raised to prevent a like movement of the napkin, and in this function it is assisted by a pin 3 11 which projects laterally from the free end of the pivoted bar 335, the pin being adapted to engage the upper portion of the napkin.

Referring now to Fig. 1, I have shown the trough 328 which receives the folded napkins as extended out to one side of the machine. Its far end 342 is closed sutliciently to form an abutment for supportin a sliding block in the form of a plate 3&3 having a laterally extending base 341-4 which may pass through the trough end, as shown. A pressure block is adapted to compress between itself and the block 3 13 a quantity of napkins corresponding. if desired, to the number that is indicated by the presence of the napkin having the oifccnter fold. Connected to the pressure block is a plate which extends over the upper edge of the trough and down upon the outer sides thereof.

Throughout the major portion of their length the trough walls are of reduced elevation, but in the region of their far ends are upwardly extended as at 3 H to provide an abutment with which the plate 3&6 may engage when the pressure block 3-15 has been advanced to the limit desired. For moving the pressure block to this position, I have provided a second plate 348 movable into engagement with the plate 346 by means of a pair of draw rods 349 slidably mounted within bearings 350 and adapted to be operated with the aid of a hand lever 351. The pressure block which is independent of the plate 34-8 may be lifted from the trough whenever the operator desires to set it in a new position.

Between the two blocks 3 13 and 345, when in final position, is arranged a plunger plate 352 vertically movable through the trough bottom so as to elevate all the napkins which are there held under compression. To raise and lower the plunger plate a supporting rod 353 is provided, and connected therewith is a link 354i attached to a foot lever 355 which is ,fulcrumed, as at 356, to a suitable support. As the compressed napkins are raised from the trough by means of the plunger plate just described, an enclosing wrapper 357, preferably of rectangular form, as best shown in Fig. 6, is slipped over the napkins so as to bind them securely together.

A special advantage results from the use of crepe tissue paper in the present machine. If the crinkles or wrinkles are disposed lengthwise of the paper roll, each of the first folds will be in a direction parallel therewith. The last fold which is transverse to the others leaves these wrinkles or crinkles disposed lengthwise of the napkin as finally folded, with the result that it possesses sufficient strength to stand upright even if supported only in its lower portion. It may be found convenient to arrange a quantity of napkins within a tumbler or other like enclosure, the transverse folds being at the bottom. When so positioned, the upper ends of the napkins will not bend over owing to the fact that the wrinkles or crinkles which remain vertically disposed in each of the several plies or folds, afford the necessary reinforcement in this direction.

A machine which embodies the principles of my invention has capacity for folding, stacking and packaging napkins at a fast rate. It combines in one structure cutter, a plurality of folding means operating consecutively in a direction transversely of the paper, a final folder which operates transi ersely of others, a counting mechanism by which a definite quantity of the folded napkins is indicated, and stacking means which facilitates the final assembly of a definite quantity into a unit package. The operating mechanisms which I have shown and described are admirably suited for the purposes of my invention, but manifestly may be altered or modified within considerable limits without afi'ecting the character of the machine. 'Accordingly, I desire to be protected in this patent to the extent of any structure which embodies the means, mechanisms, and devices, as set forth in the claims following.

I claim:

1. A paper handling machine in which is comprised a plurality of oscillatable folding means the axes whereof are parallel, means for feeding paper lengths into position to be acted upon successively by each of the folding means, and a mechanism associated with one of said folding means in a manner whereby it acts periodically to produce an ofl'center fold in one of the paper lengths, substantially as described.

2. A paper handling machine in which is comprised means for folding a paper sheet, means whereby each sheet is centered in position previous to folding, and means operatively connected with both the folding and centering means for periodically causing one sheet to be offcentered whereby to produce a resulting fold of distinctive character, substantially as described.

3. A paper handling machine in which is comprised means for folding a sheet of paper, means for centering the paper sheet before folding, and means associated with the other means just mentioned for decentering a selected sheet whereby to produce therein an off-center fold, substantially as described.

4. A paper handling machine in which is comprised a conveyor system for moving sheets from oneposition to another, the system including a plurality of units each made up of two sets of spaced belts mounted to travel over rollers, a folder plate mounted to move between the two sets of belts, operative connections between the folder plate and the belts, and a drive therefor includ" ing a pair of meshing gears one of which is mutilated and provided with an arc plate and the other of which is equipped with pin adapted to engage with the plate during the period of its rotation adjacent the pin whereby movement of the belts is definitely halted. periodically, substantially as described.

5. A paper handling machine in which is comprised. means for folding a sheet of paper, a toothed ratchet wheel, operative connections therebetween adapted to ad vance the wheel the distance of one tooth with each operation of thefolding means, means for centering the paper sheet preliminary to operation of the foldin means, an operative connection between the centering means and the ratchet Wheel including a! dog adapted to engage successively With all of the teeth thereof except one, and other means associated with the ratchet Wheel-I adapted to be operated thereby at the moment the dog misses engagement Witl said 10 tooth to thereby act upon the centering means, substantially as described.

ARISTOMENES D. ADAMOPGULOS. 

